Detachable junction box for inflatable suits



Nov. 27, 1945. R. s. coLLEY ETAL 2,389,895

DETACHABLE JUNCTION BOX FOR INFLATABLE SUITS Filed June 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Russe/A5. C'a//yJ and Carro l? ra/9,0,

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Nov.' 27, 1945.` R. s. coLLEY Er A1.

DETACHABLE JUNCTION BOX FOR INFLA'IABLE SUITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1942 /NvL-Nrons: Rasse 5. C'o//e and Carro# P /1 fapp l 42 V 8/ ez 7.9

QM@ A47 Patented Nov. 27, 1945 DETACHABLE JUNCTION BOX FOR INFLATABLE SUITS Russell S. Colley, Kent, and Carroll P. Krupp, Akron, Ohio, assignors to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1942, Serial No. 445,586

Claims.

This invention relates to separable connectors for interconnecting conduits and especially to detachable junction boxes for inflatable suits.

It is desirable that an inflatable suit for persons who fly at highaltitudes and especially in the region of the stratosphere, be adapted for detachably interconnecting the same with sources of fluid, such as pressurized air and oxygen, and with sources of electrical energy, and be adapted for providing for convenience and safety of use and for providing for effective protection of the wearer against low temperatures, oxygen deficiency, and other factors, which have a physiological effect during flight at the higher levels. It is advantageous to have all conduits, for fluid and for electricity, extend through the wall of the suit at one conveniently accessible location, thus eliminating multiple manual operations in coupling or uncoupling the several conduits, especially in an emergency period. Since the wearer may be encased completely and may be shielded from direct audible communication with other persons, reliable means of communication is desirable.

To these ends, objects of the invention are to provide a connector for mounting a conduit at one side of the wall of a hollow article in communication with the other side of said Wall, and to provide a detachable junction box for interconnecting electrical conduits and for interconnecting fluid conduits through the wall of an inflatable suit, whereby electrical energy and a fluid, such as air, from exterior sources are conducted into the suit.

Other objects are to provide a separable junction box for a hollow body for the connection of respective fluid conduits and electrical conduits, which is engaged and disengaged by movement generally in the direction along the wall of the body so that space limitations do not handicap convenient manipulation, and to provide a separable connector for interconnecting fluid conduits which provides against leakage of fluid upon the disengagement of the connector.

Further objects are to provide a detachable junction box for an inflatable suit which is compact and accessible for use, and which does not require multiple manual operations in coupling or uncoupling a plurality of fluid conduits and a plurality of electrical conduits, and to provide a durable junction box having simplicity of construction and ease of manufacture and having convenience and reliability of operation.

More specific objects are to provide a detachable junction box for interconnecting respective fluid conduits and electrical conduits through the wall of an inflatable suit, which permits the flow of fluid and 'oi electrical energy upon the engagement of the several elements comprising the box, and which effectively stops the flow of the fluid and the electrical energy upon the disengagement of the elements; to provide for conducting fluid frorn an exterior source into the suit during an emergency period despite the disengaged condition of the junction box; and to provide for the interconnecting of parts, such as microphones and earphones of radio or telephone communication systems, within the suit to components of such systems as may be located elsewhere.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts sectioned and broken away, of a detachable junction box constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, elements thereof being in engagement,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the junction box with the elements disengaged,

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification of the junction box, parts being broken away,

Fig. 7 is a front view of the junction box shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken along line 8 8 of Fig. 3 showing a valve structure with sealing means.

The use of a detachable junction box 0 having fluid conduits and electrical conduits, like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is desirable in order to provide for the effective functioning of the inflatable suit in the region of the stratosphere. Fluid conduits permit the introduction into the interior of the suit of oxygen and air under a pressure exceeding that of the atmosphere. Oxygen is vdesirable to compensate for the decrease in the mass oxygen content in the air being breathed, the amount of oxygen available being proportional to the air density and the rate of absorption by man being governed by the partial pressure of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Air under a pressure greater than atmospheric is required within the inflatable suit to maintain a 2 pressure vupon the body of the wearer equivalent to that pressure of the air existing at lower levels where effective and safe night may be had. The electrical conduits permit the use of electricity for maintenance of body warmth, for example, by means of a resistance-heated suit, and permit the interconnecting of electrical parts, such as microphone and earphones of radio and telephone communication systems, with other parts of the systems as may be located elsewhere.

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention whereby fluids, such as air and oxygen, and electrical energy may be conducted through the wall I I of an iniiatable suit by means of conduits in elements I2 and I3 and in a terminal element I4. The engagement and the disengagement of the element I2 with the terminal element I4 by movement generally in the direction along the wall II of the suit eliminates objectionable pressure upon the body of the wearer during the engaging operation and minimizes space requirements, and permits separably interconnecting exteriol` conduits from sources of supply of the iluids and electrical energy with corresponding conduits within the suit. Upon the engagement of the elements I2 and I4 a spring type bail 65 pivotally mounted at Samay be disposed in a depression 23 in a rib 22, and may be utilized to restrain separating movement of the elements I2 and I4. 'The spring bail 66 is substantially U- shaped upon engagement with the terminal I4, but upon disengagement therefrom, the leg portions 8-9 having inwardly extending projections at their ends assume a converging position toward each other. By virtue of this position the legs exert an inward pressure upon the terminal I4, when the projections .are disposed in depressions in the terminal I4 to provide for a pivotal mounting at 8B for the bail 66.

f The detachable junction box Ill which is compact and small in size and which may be mounted in a conveniently accessible location onv the suit, provides against leakage of fluid upon the disengagement of the element I2 and the terminal element I4 by means of valve structures I5 and I6, shown in Figs. 3 and 8, parts oi the structures being disposed in the element I2 and parts being disposed in the terminal element I4, thus eifectively preventing the escape of fluids from and the reduction of pressure within the suit and the escape of uids from the sources of supply f the latter. An additional safety feature, besides that of fluid leakage prevention, is provided by the junction box I0 by means of a fluid conduit I1 in the element I2 in communication'with the fluid conduit I9, as shown in Fig. ll, whereby fluid, such as oxygen, may be supplied to the wearer of the suit from a supplementary portable source during a period of emergency--for example, a parachute descent to the earth from the stratosphere.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, spaced-apart apertures are provided in the wall I I of the inflatable suit in register with an air conduit I8, an oxygen conduit I9, an electrical conduit chamber 20, and screw fasteners 2I in the elements I2 and I3. These elements I2 and I3 may be secured together in register and sealed to the ilexible material of the wall I I by a suitable adhesive, such as rubber cement, and by the screw fasteners 2l. The terminal element I4 may be made in two parts, an upper element 24 and a lower element 25, with a rubber gasket seal 26 adhered to and interposed between the parts, and may be attached in abutting contact with the element I2 as hereinabove described.

A fluid conduit 21, such as a flexible, reinforced-rubber hose, may be secured to a tubular projection 28 of the terminal I4 part 25 by a suitable flat band fastening means 29; the conduit 21 may be interconnected with a source of pressurized air and with the air conduit I8 in the elements I2, I3,.and I4, which is is communication with the inside of the inflatable suit upon the engagement of the elements l2 and I4. In like manner, a suitable flexible fluid conduit 30, which is enclosed within the conduit 21, is secured to the part 25 and is interconnected with a source of oxygen and with the oxygen conduit I9 in the elements I2, I3, and I4 in communication with the interior of the suit. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, a plurality of electrical conduits, such as .a conduit 3| for earphones, a conduit 32 for the microphone, and a pair of conduits 33 and 34 for the electrically heated suit, may .be disposed within the fluid conduit 21., and are connected to spaced-apart socket elements 35 in the terminal part 24, which vare adapted for separable Aengagement with prong elements 39 of respective spaced-apart conduits 31., 33, 39, and 4.0 in the element I2.

Within the inflatable suit, electrical conduits 4I, 42, 43 and44 for the earphones, the microphone, andthe heated suit, respectively, are secured in the chamber 20 of the element I3 to the projecting ends of the corresponding conduits 31, 3.8, 3-9 and 40 in the element I2, and extend therefrom Vthrough suitable openings in the walls of the chamber 20, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.

Furthermore, the element I3 inside the suit may be provided with a connector member for Lcoupling a hose, for example, to the oxygen conduit I9, and provided with another connector member 46 for coupling a hose 41 to the air conduit I8;

In Figs. 3, 4, and `8 the valve structures I6, which regulate the flow of fluids, such as air and oxygen, and which are substantially alike l in construction, are shown with the parts in the elements I2 and I4 in operative engagement,

whereby fluid is permitted to flow through the` conduits I8 and I9. As shown in Fig. 8,' the element I2 Yhas a valve disc 48 having an integral hollow stem 49 with a closed end 50; likewise the terminal element I4 has a. valve disc 5I having an integral hollowstem 52 with a closed end 53. The hollow stems 49 and 52 may be retained in axial alignment by fixed guide pins 54Y and 55 whichare secured to the elements I2 and I4 respectively, and which extend into the hollow portion of 'the stems and slidingly engage therewith; hence transverse movement kof `the valve discs 48 and 5I and the stems 49 and 52 is prevented effectively.. When the elements I2 and I4 are in engagement, the closed ends 50 and 53 of thestems are accordingly in abutting contact intermedia-teY the discs so thatthe latter are Vmaintained in the open position.

A disc seal 56" of rubber-like material may be secured to a face of the valve disc 5I to provide for seating -of the latter against va face of the upper element 240i the terminal I4. An outwardly extending sleeve 51 (63) may be attached to the termi-nal element I4 (24) to provide for 'sliding engagement with a valve seat 58, which is secured in position in the element I2 by a snap ring fastener 59; also to provide for contiguous engagement of a beveled end face 60 ofthe sleeve 51 with anannular sealing ring ls and IIv of'rubber-like material. The sealing ring II of rubber-like material is adjacent and interposed between the valve seat 58 and the disc valve 48, the ring having an inwardly extending ilange 62, which may be bent to provide for sealing contact with the beveled end 6I] of the sleeve 51 upon the engagement of the elements I2 and I4.

When the elements I2 and I4 are disengaged, a compression spring 64 interposed between the valve disc 48 and the wall of the element I2 moves the valve 48 to the closed position, in which position the valve is seated against the sealing ring 6| and the valve seat 58, eiectively preventing leakage of iluid. In like manner, a compression spring 65 interposed between the valve disc 5| and the wall of the lower element 25 of the terminal |4 moves the valve 5| to the closed position, in which position the valve and the disc seal 56 are seated against a face of the upper element 24.

The modied junction box shown in Figs. 6 and 7, may be secured to a wall `|I or other structure of an airplane, for example, to provide for a separable connector between the junction box I on the inflatable suit and the sources of supply of pressurized air and oxygen and of electrical energy, in which case the exterior conduits 21, 30 to 34, extending. from the detachable junction box I0, may be attached to a duplicate of the terminal element I4, which detachably engages with an element 12. While the element 72 does not have the third conduit I'I of the element I'2, as shown in Fig. 4, the element 'I2 is substantially a duplicate of the element I2 including the Valve structures and may be secured to an element 'I3 by means of screw fasteners '|4. A rubber gasket -I5 having suitable openings for the fluid and the electrical conduits may be disposed between the elements 12 and 'I3 to provide against leakage of uid.

End ilanges 'I5 and 'I1 integral with the element 13 may be provided for attaching the latter to the wall 'II by screw fasteners 18, although otherwise the element 13 is substantially like the element I3. A connector member 'I9 for coupling an oxygen conduit from the source of supply and a connector member 80 for coupling an air conduit from the source of supply to the junction box 'I0 element 13 may be provided. Electrical leads 8| to 84 from sources of electrical energy for the earphones, the microphone, and and the heated suit, are connected to the corresponding electrical conduits in the elements I4 and 12 which are interconnected with the conduits 3| to 34 in a manner like hereinabove described for the elements I2 and I3. Upon the engagement of the elements I4 and 12, the spring type bail 66 may be disposed in a depression 86 in a rib 85 on the element I2 to restrain separating movement of the elements I4 and 12.

In the application to an airplane, for example, conduits from the sources of supply of oxygen, pressurized air, and electrical energy may be connected to the element 13, which may be attached to the wall or other structure of the airplane in an accessible location and to which the element 'I2 is secured in a manner previously described. The combination of the elements I2 and 'I3 and the conduits from the sources of supply provides for supplying the fluids and electrical energy to the inflatable suit upon the engagement of the terminal elements I4, including the intermediate conduits 21, 30, 3|, to 34, with the elements I2 and 1'2 respectively, by

movement generally in the direction along the wall of the suit and the airplane.

above described, the engagement of the elements I4, |2, and 12 opens the valves I5 and I6 5 and interconnects the electrical conduits and the fluid conduits, whereby the sources of supply are in communication with the suit through the wall of the latter.

In normal use of the inflatable suit by the wearer during flight in the region of the stratosphere, the elements I4, I2, and l2 are secured detachably in engagement and are restrained from separating movement by the pivoted spring bail 66 in a manner previously described. However, in an emergency, such as the necessity of a parachute descent to the earth, the wearer may detach rapidly the suit from the conduits by grasping and pulling outwardly a thong 81 attached to the bail 66. Furthermore, should the wearer of the suit neglect to pull the thong 81 before jumping from the airplane, the great strain thereby imposed upon the terminal element I4 is sufficient to distort the spring bail 66 such that the same becomes disengaged at its pivoted mounting 88 from the terminal I4; hence the separation of the terminal element I4 from the element I2 or the element 'I2 or both may occur. Upon the disengagement the elements I2 or l2 and the terminal I4 the Valves I5 and I6 close and prevent leakage of iluid from the suit and from the sources of supply of the same. In order to preserve the life of the wearer of the suit during the parachute descent from the region of the stratosphere to the earth, an emergency oxygen supply bottle, for example, may be attached to the conduit I'I by the wearer for breathing purposes.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

We claim:

l. A junction box for the connection of respective electrical conduits and fluid conduits through the wall of a hollow body, said box comprising an element adjacent one side of said wall and having a pair of faces, one of said faces seating against said wall and the other face disposed substantially normal thereto, a second element oppositely disposed and immovably secured to the iirst said element and adjacent the other side of said wall. a terminal element engageable with the first said element at the second said face thereof. means for detachably engaging said terminal element with the rst said element by movement substantially parallel to the wall, an electrical conduit and a iluid conduit extending through said elements and said wall, means for interrupting the flow of electrical energy through said electrical conduit by the disengagement of the first said element and said terminal element,

a valve structure disposed within the fluid conduit in the rst said element and in said terminal element, and means for opening the valve by the engagement of the rst said element with said terminal element and to close the valve by the disengagement of the latter said elements.

2. A separable connector for interconnecting respective electrical conduits and fluid conduits providing against leakage of fluid upon the disengagement of the connector and adapted to be supported by a surface, said connector comprising an element having a pair of faces, one of said faces seating against said surface and the other face disposed substantially normal thereto, a terminal element engageable with the rst said element As hereinat the second .said face thereof by movement substantially parallel to' said surface, means for detachably engaging said terminal element with the first said element, a plurality of electrical conduits .and a plurality of fluid .conduits in said elements, plug .and socket means for closing and interrupting the electrical path through the conduits, valve structures for controlling the fluid flow in the respective fluid conduits, each said structures having a portion disposed Within the fluid conduits of the first said element and having another portion disposed Within said fluid conduits of said terminal telement, and means in said portions co-acting to open the valve by the engagement of said elements andA to close the valves by the disengagement of said elements.

3. A detachable junction box for an inflatable suit having a wall portion of flexible material for mounting a fluid conduit at one side of the Wall in communication with the other side of said Wall portion, said junction box comprising an `element having a face seating against said Wall portion, means for immovably securing and sealing Said element to said Wall portion, a terminal element engageable With the first said element at a face thereof normal to said wall portion, means for detachably engaging said terminal element with the first said element by movement substan-tially parallel to the Wall, a fluid conduit extending through said elementsl and said Wall portion, a valve structure having a portion disposed within the fluid conduit of the first said element and having a portion disposed within the fluid conduit of said terminal element, and means in the latter said portions co-acting to open the valve by the engagement of said elements and to close the valve by the disengagement of said elements- 4. A detachable junction box for an inflatable suit having a Wall section of. flexible material for mounting respective electrical conduits and fluid conduits at one side of the Wall in communication with the other side of said Wall sec*- tion, said junction box comprising an element having a pair of faces, one of s-aid faces seating against the exterior surface of said wall andthe other face disposed generally normal thereto, a second element oppositely disposed to the rst said element and having a face seating against the interior surface of said wall in register with the first said element, means for securing said elements to the Wall and to each other, a terminal element engageable with the rst said element at the second said face/thereof, means for detachably engaging said terminal with the first. said element by Imovement generally in the direction along said Wall, a plurality of electrical conduits and a pair of fluid conduits extending through said elements and said wall, means for `closing and interrupting the electrical path through4 said electricalv conduits, valve structures for controlling the fluid flow in the respective fluid conduits, each said structures having a portion disposed lwithin the fluid oonduitsof the rst said elem-ent and having another'portion disposed within said fluid conduits of said terminal, means in said portions operableto open the valves by the engagement of the first said element with said terminal ele. ment and operable to close the valves by the disengagement of the latter said elements, a third fluid conduit in the first said element in communication with a portion of one of said fluid conduits, said portion extending from lthe valve structure through the first said element and said second element, a, valve element in said third conduit, and means for opening and closing said valve element.

5. In a separable connector for interconnecting a fluid conduit through the Wall of an inflatable suit providing against leakage of fluid upon the disengagement of the connector, a body positionable at one side of said Wall having a pair of faces, one of said faces being positionable adiacent said Wall and the second face being substantially normal thereto and intersecting the first face substantially at said Wall, said body having an opening in the second said face, a second body detachably engageable with the first said body at the second said face thereof close to said wall by movement substantially parallel to the wall, means `for thus engaging said bodies, said means including an outwardly extending tubular projection of said second body for engaging with the wall of said opening in the first said body, a fluid conduit in said bodies adapted to extend through said Wall of said suit. said con duit being in communication with said tubular projection upon engagement of said bodies, and' a fluid flow control structure, said structure comprising a pair of spaced-apart disc valve elements, one of said elements being disposed in the first said body and the other element being` disposed in said second body, seating elements for said valve elements, one of said seating elements being disposed in the first said body and adapted for sliding engagement with said tubular projection, the latter said seating element comprising an annular ring having anV inwardly extending flexible flange for abutting contact with said tubular projection, tubular elements in register with apertures in said disc'elements and attached to and extending normal to both faces of each of. said disc elements, rod elements slidably engaged with said tubular elements and extending through saidv apertures for registering the disc valve elements with said seating elements, and means including spring elements contacting faces of said val-ve elements operable upon the engagement of said bodies for opening said structure and operable upon the disengagement of said bodies for closing said structure. l

' RUSSELL S. COLLEY. CARROLL l.y KRUPP. 

